An intense 24-hour-a-day level crossings construction blitz will close the trail immediately north of Murray Road until early June. A detour will be in place.
The Railway Reserve bike path will be closed between Regent Street and Murray Road, including the Olver Street pedestrian crossing over the tracks.
The trail will be closed from 4pm Monday 16 May to 5pm Friday 3 June.
Detour is via Regent Street, William Street, Clinch Avenue and Murray Road. Signage will be in place. Traffic management will be in place to help you move safely around the area.
During this time there will be an increased number of trucks and heavy vehicles travelling on local roads including Watt Street and Clapham Street in Thornbury, Bruce Street, Edith Street, Clinch Avenue and Taunton Avenue in Preston.
The project involves elevating the rail tracks above road crossings and building new stations.
Bike access to stations is being improved along with more and better bike parking facilities.
Critical works will take place on the track while trains are not running, which will include completing the city-bound rail bridge and continuing to build the Mernda-bound rail bridge.
Upcoming works will include:
- Removal of the Bell temporary station and platforms at Bell and Preston stations
- L-Beam delivery and installation at Edith Street
- Continued works to build the new Bell and Preston stations
- Removal of the rail track from Miller Street to Taunton Avenue in Preston
- Continued construction of the Mernda-bound rail bridge
Metro Trains maintenance and renewal works will also take place during this time as well as works north of Regent Street towards Reservoir
Riders should be aware that buses will replace trains on the Mernda line during this time. Bikes are not permitted on buses.
There will be road closures at the level crossing on Cramer Street, Bell Street, Oakover Road and Murray Road, during the works.
There will also be additional lane closures and stop/go arrangements on local roads including Bell Street, Edith Street, Clinch Avenue, and Railway Place East.
On-street parking will be removed on both sides of Taunton Avenue and Watt Street.
Effective from 30 May, the Mernda line will operate on a single track over the newly completed city-bound rail bridge between Thornbury and Regent stations for three months.
This will enable trains to keep running while the Mernda-bound rail bridge is completed.
Trains will not stop at Bell and Preston stations during this stage. Shuttle buses will transport passengers from Bell and Preston stations to nearby Thornbury, Regent and Reservoir stations.
During this time there will be minor timetable changes to the Mernda and Hurstbridge lines.
This article was made possible by the support of Bicycle Network's members who enable us to make bike riding better in Australia.